• Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather Jnr

Pacquiao promoter insists he wants Floyd fight

ESPN staff
December 6, 2011
Bob Arum: 'We at Top Rank want the fight' © PA Photos
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Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has scoffed at suggestions he is obstructing the Filipino's route to a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

Top Rank chief Arum has been criticised by members of Pacquiao's team for his reluctance to do business with Golden Boy Promotions, who help to organise Mayweather's bouts. It is reported that Arum's preference is for Pacquiao to face Juan Manuel Marquez.

But Arum has moved to cool fears that he is stopping the Mayweather fight from taking place on May 5 in Las Vegas. "Certainly, we at Top Rank want that fight, Manny wants that fight, I believe Floyd wants that fight," Arum said in a RingTV interview. "So why wouldn't I be optimistic?

"It doesn't necessarily have to be on May 5. If Floyd wants to fight Pacquiao, maybe another day is preferable."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has told Arum to put aside any personal grievances and act in the best interests of his fighter. "The thing is, this is not personal. This is business," he said.

"I hate when personal feelings get brought into the equation. It's stupid. The thing is that Bob Arum and Don King didn't always get along, but they did business. There's no reason that they [Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy supremo and Arum] shouldn't be able to make it happen."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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